Always so tight! Hmph. This was my third new dress, this time in light blue. I had objected to having so many dresses like this, but I quickly realized that they never intended for me to wear the dress my Mom made me again. Now that I was all laced up, Emilia bowed before leaving. She knew I liked a moment by myself. That was extra true today.

  I had folded my dress up. It was a badge of honor to me. I made it to adulthood. She handmade this just for me. It was perfect—the perfect dress for Julia. And I had to give it back to my Mom today. Evelyn made a good point, if I took it with me. That just presented tons of chances for it to be lost or stolen. And I would never be allowed to wear it while on my adventure.

  As much as I understood that, it still made me sad. To see something so precious to me, just sitting in a drawer. I lightly slapped my cheeks. No crying. I wasn’t allowed to use the healing spell, and I didn’t want to be scolded for too carelessly showing my emotions. Not today.

  Breakfast was on the lighter side, and after it, Alexandra, Evelyn, and I joined for some magic practice. Apparently, it was customary for girls to learn before boys, at least in Anlage. Though even then, Alexandrea probably would have been made to wait an extra year. Her inclusion was to give me a study partner.

  We sat in a circle and each clasped hands. Alexandra on my right, and Evelyn on my left, and with them holding hands, we completed our circle. Zureinigen, as a cleaning spell, was considered basically harmless, even if done poorly. Hence, it being trusted by even children, but the same was not true of even other basic spells. Anything from healing to calling for help with magic could cause a lot of damage when done with bad magic control.

  That is what this exercise was for. We each flowed our magic into our hands and began pushing and pulling at the magic in the other’s hand. I preferred closing my eyes during this, but in either case, it felt bizarre. If I had to describe it, imagine a soap bubble sitting in the air. When you blow on it, it doesn’t move around the world, but rather its shape changes. Imagine trying to get it not just into a simple square, but the shape of a person.

  Even knowing where to blow was far from a simple task, before we even add how difficult it was to blow as you wanted. And then the force of your breath had an effect. All the while, your breath is running ou,t and exhaustion steps in before you realize it.

  Oh, Alexandra is doing well. I could sense her positive feelings. When connected like this, it feels like I can hear her speaking to me. Not words in the sense of language, but something like that. I understood that she was happy with her current level of control. I can feel her reacting to my joy as well, which made me think she could read me just as easily.

  Stay focused, I felt from Evelyn. She must have noticed me slipping. I tried to clear my mind. Focusing on nothing but my bubble. I wanted to shape it like a rabbit. I thought that would be simpler, but that made it far from easy. You got this, I felt from Alexandra. It calmed me to feel her encouragement. I blew softly, trying to shape my bunny; it was looking slightly closer.

  Pop

  I let out a breath as I opened my eyes. I almost began panting as I let go of their hands.

  “Not bad,” Evelyn said.

  “Your bunny was way closer than mine. I was still barely getting an oval,” Alexandra commented.

  Evelyn looked up and then at me. “It is almost time. Let us call it there for today. Do you think you are ready?”

  I nodded. I didn’t know what else to say. My parents will be coming today for our reunion meeting, one month, just as Christopher promised. And then, three days from now, we would begin making our way to the capital. The king’s schedule originally gave me seven days after this union, but Evelyne thought we should leave early.

  I stood up and looked out the window. No carriage yet. I had asked if I could wear my old dress just for today. Obviously, the answer was no. Even then, it would make it impossible to give it back. Meeting new people as the Wind Maiden was one thing. But while we were keeping my title a secret still, for all other purposes. I was meeting my family today, not as Julia, their daughter. But as the Maiden of Wind. It made me nervous in a way I couldn’t describe.

  “It is okay,” Evelyne said, standing next to me. “Failure means very little here,” she then paused and turned to Alexandra. “You, on the other hand. This will be the final test I can give you. So I expect you to be on your best behavior.”

  She did a curtsy. “I shall endeavor to impress you, Lady Evelyn."

  I smirked. Perfect. I wasn’t nearly as good as her. I don’t know why my stomach was in such knots today. It wasn’t like my parents would know anything about it. What would they say? I couldn’t help but wonder. Would they even recognize me? Sometimes, even I didn’t.

  “Maiden of Wind, we of the Malatise house are getting the privilege to treat your family like royalty, it may only be for one day as practice. And perhaps they will not fully grasp what it is, but I would like to think of it as my own badge of honor, showing them the best experience we can together. I ever so hope you will help me with this.”

  I smiled and returned a curtsy. For my rank, going so far meant I wholeheartedly agreed. The difference between facing something alone and with an ally was so vast it couldn’t even be compared to day and night. I knew deep in my heart that I would always think of Alexandra Malatise as an ally of mine.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “I, too, am ever so looking forward to us earning such a badge of honor.”

  Evelyn noticed the carriage, and we made our way to the door. As was becoming a recurring theme in my life, things kept happening, whether I was ready or not. The coachmen knocked on the door, and Emilia and the head butler opened the door. They then saw my parents in. My heart was pounding like it was going to explode, but I bowed to give them my best curtsy.

  “Thanks,” Mom said.

  My heart sank a bit. I know my head was tilted down, but she didn’t recognize me.

  Evelyn was letting Alexandra use this as a test, so they were letting her greet my parents as their representative. She had bent down with the maids, butler, and Evelyn, giving them the proper royal treatment. Normally, it would be me who speaks as the highest status, but since this was the Malatise house. The honor went to Alexandra.

  “Greetings, the family of Julia. We in the Malatise house greet you with kind hearts and pure minds. We hope your stay is as pleasant as the light the gods shine on us all.”

  This was the one time she was permitted to call me Julia, since we were keeping my status a secret a while longer. With that, Alexandra rose, and then I followed, finally Evelyn and the servants.

  “Oh my,” Mom said. “We don’t need all this fanfare. I just wanna see my baby girl.”

  “I am right here, Mom,” I said.

  “Huh?” Mom said. She just stared at me. It was churning my stomach to see her debate the issue. But I did my best to hold my face straight. Slightly curved smile, polite, and proper. Nothing for her to read.

  “What do they got you wearing?” Dad asked.

  “This?” I said, looking at my light blue dress. As much as I wanted to shout, it was an unnecessary waste of fabric. Evelyn was watching. This was a test. I had to address this as a noble would. “It is just a light evening gown for the end of summer weather.”

  “Evening gown?” Dad asked, scratching his head. “Well, what are you waiting for? Not like my baby to wait for an invite for a hug.”

  I stepped carefully as I approached Dad and wrapped my arms around him. “I missed you… lots.” Crap. I knew I choked, but I couldn’t think of the noble way to say it.

  Mom joined in on the hug but paused. “Julia, your skin. It’s softer than when you were a newborn. What happened?”

  Once the hug broke, I looked at Mom and placed my hand on my cheek. “That is quite a long story. Might we enjoy this beautiful weather to its fullest effect?”

  I wanted to suggest a particular spot in the garden, but I was working with Alexandra. I had to give her a chance to guide us as the host.

  “Emilia, fetch us some tea and pastries. I do not believe Julia’s parents saw our wonderful garden last time.”

  I smiled. She nailed it.

  I clasped my hands. “That sounds lovely.”

  Evelyn was acting more like my attendant today than a noble. So when we got to the gazebo, she stood behind me, with Emilia standing behind Alexandra, and the head butler setting the teacups on the table.

  “The flowers are pretty, so weird to see em all clumped together,” Mom said.

  “Why a hut with no walls? The roof seems worthless for blocking the rain?” Dad asked.

  Right Dad! I thought the same thing. It gave me comfort to think I was still their daughter. Alexandrea went on to explain that it was meant more to look nice and sometimes to block the sun.

  Mom didn’t touch her tea; instead, she looked at me and waved her hand. “Get explaining, what is all this?”

  Mom! I can’t just…. Ugh. Why does my Mom have to be so on point? If I could just explain it, don’t you think I would have by now?

  I tilted my head to the side. Confusion, and then confirm it. “Whatever do you mean?”

  “That! Why are you talking like that?” she asked.

  “It is simply part of the job that I accepted last month. It is nothing to be worried about,” I said, sipping tea. “I recommend two sugars and a splash of milk.”

  “Okay, uh, Mr… can you make my tea that way?” Dad asked. Once it was stirred, he took a sip and smiled.

  “Ugh!” Mom said. “We are here to confirm these letters. And find out what is happening. And see if we can take our daughter home. This isn’t about drinking bitter vegetable water.”

  “Oh my,” Alexandra said. “If you would prefer something else. I can try and have it prepared?”

  “Who is this anyway? Where is the guy from last time?” Mom asked.

  “Mother!” I shouted. I nearly choked. I said… Mother? That is what Alexandra says. I have to recover. “You are being rude. The young Malatise here is my friend. And she is graciously trying to be a host. We are testing her.”

  Alexandra clasped her hands. “It is quite right, I had forgotten that Julia wasn’t the fondest of tea at first either. So I should have considered bringing another beverage.”

  “It isn’t the bev… what? It has nothing to do with all that. I just want to talk to my daughter alone. No offense, Malat… child.”

  Gods! It was ripping me apart to see so much of myself in my Mom.

  “Mom, we shall do both. We were simply trying to be polite and offer you some tea and snacks after your long journey. I have every letter I received, upstairs in a box waiting for us to look over later.”

  Mom mostly got quiet, but her face betrayed her grumbles quite easily. Dad, on the other hand, was sipping tea with a smile and occasionally taking a bite of some cookies. I decided to distract myself with a cookie. Mom just glared at Dad. Mom wasn’t going to make this reunion easy at any point, was she? I just let out a sigh.

  “What? They are good!” he said.

  I giggled. “I agree most wholeheartedly.”